Axial Flow Compressors

Axial Flow Compressors

Elementary theory

Axial Flow Compressors

Axial Flow Compressors

Comparison of typical forms of turbine and
compressor rotor blades

Axial Flow Compressors

Axial Flow Compressors
Stage= S+R
S: stator (stationary blade)
R: rotor (rotating blade)
First row of the stationary blades is called guide vanes
** Basic operation
*Axial flow compressors:
1) series of stages
2) each stage has a row of rotor blades followed
by a row of stator blades.
3) fluid is accelerated by rotor blades.

Axial Flow Compressors

In stator, fluid is then decelerated causing change in the

kinetic energy to static pressure.
Due to adverse pressure gradient, the pressure rise for
each stage is small. Therefore, it is known that a single
turbine stage can drive a large number of compressor
stages.
Inlet guide vanes
C are
C C used to guide the flow into the first
stage.
w

w2

w1

Elementary Theory:
Assume mid plane is constant r1=r2, u1=u2
assume
Ca=const, in the direction of u.

C w C w2 C w1

, in the direction of u.

Axial Flow Compressors

Inside the rotor, all power is consumed.
Stator only changes K.E.P static, To2=To3
Increase in stagnation pressure is done in the rotor.
Stagnation pressure drops due to friction loss in the stator:
C1: velocity of air approaching the rotor.
1 : angle of approach of rotor.
u: blade speed.
V1: the velocity relative t the rotor at inlet at an
angle 1 from the axial direction.
V2: relative velocity at exit rotor at angle 2
determined from the rotor blade outlet angle.
2: angle of exit of rotor.
Ca: axial velocity.

Axial Flow Compressors

Two dimensional analysis:
Only axial ( Ca) and tangential (Cw). no radial component

C1 u V1

V2 tangnt to blade at exit.

assuming C a1 C a2 C a
this V2 can be ontained V2 C a2 cos 2

then V2 & u triangle get C 2

normally 3 1 to prepare air to go to a similar stage
also C 3 C1
.

W m c p (To2 To1 )

Axial Flow Compressors

Axial Flow Compressors

from velocity triangles
assuming

Ca Ca1 Ca2

u/Ca tan1 tan 1 , u / Ca tan 2 tan 2

the power input to stage

'

(a)

W mu (Cw2 Cw1 )

where

Cw1 andCw2 are tangential components at inlet and exit of the rotors.
or in terms of the axial velocity

W muCa (tan 2 - tan1 )

From equation (a)

(tan 2 - tan1 ) (tan1 - tan 2 )

Axial Flow Compressors

Energy balance
c p To5 c p (To3 To1 ) c (To2 To1 ) uC a (tan 1 tan 2 )
To5 uC a (tan 1 tan 2 ) / c p

pressure ratio at a stage

ps

po3
po1

s To5
1

To1

where, s stage isentropic efficiency

Ex.
u 180 m/s, 1 43.9o , s 0.85, 0.8,
Ca 150m / s, 2 13.5, To1 288, Rs 1.183 Rcentrifugal ,
higher due to centrifugal action

Axial Flow Compressors

Degree of reaction

is the ratio of static enthalpy in rotor to static enthalpy

rise in stage

hr
static enthalpy rise in rotor

static enthalpy rise in the stage hs

For incompressible isentropic flow Tds=dh-vdp

dh=vdp=dp/
Tds=0
h=p/ ( constant )
Thus enthalpy rise could be replaced by static pressure rise
( in the definition of )

o 1

but generally choose =0.5 at mid-plane of

the stage.

Axial Flow Compressors

=0: all pressure rise only in stator
=1: all pressure rise in only in rotor
=0.5: half of pressure rise only in rotor and half is in
stator. ( recommend design)

Assume C3 C1 , and Ca const. ( for simplicity)

To5 Tstagnation Tstage Ts
1 Ca (tan 1 tan 2 ) / 2u
1 tan , C a / u
tan (tan 1 tan 2 ) / 2

Axial Flow Compressors

special condition
=0 ( impulse type rotor)
from equation 3

Ca (tan 1 tan 2 ) / 2u

1=-2 , velocities skewed left, h1=h2, T1=T2

=1.0 (impulse type stator from equation 1)
=1-Ca(tan1+tan2)/2u, 2=1
velocities skewed right, C1=C2, h2=h3T2=T3
=0.5
from 2

1
(tan 1 tan 2 )
2 2

2 1 ;

symmetric angles

V2 c1 , V1 c2 ;

P2 P1

P3 P1

Axial Flow Compressors

Three dimensional flow
2-D
1. the effects due to radial movement of the fluid are ignored.
2. It is justified for hub-trip ratio>0.8
3. This occurs at later stages of compressor.
3-D are valid due to
1. due to difference in hub-trip ratio from inlet stages to
later-stages, the annulus will have a substantial taper.
Thus radial velocity occurs.
2. due to whirl component, pressure increase with
radius.

Axial Flow Compressors

U
tan 1 tan 1 tan 2 tan 2
Ca
U (C w1 C w1 )
W m
UCa (tan 2 tan 1 )
m
UCa (tan 2 tan 1 )
m
Tos To 3 To1 To 2 To1

UCa
(tan 1 tan 2 )
cp

pressure rise per stage

Rs

po 3
Ts /( 1)
[1 s
]
po1
To1

Axial Flow Compressors

Design Process of an axial compressor
(1) Choice of rotational speed at design point and annulus
dimensions
(2) Determination of number of stages, using an assumed
efficiency at design point
(3) Calculation of the air angles for each stage at the mean
line
(4) Determination of the variation of the air angles from root
to tip
(5) Selection of compressor blades using experimentally
obtained cascade data
(6) Check on efficiency previously assumed using the
cascade data
(7) Estimation on off-design performance
(8) Rig testing

Axial Flow Compressors

Design process:
Requirements:
A suitable design point under sea-level static conditions
(with =1.01 bar and , 12000 N as take off thrust, may
emerge as follows:
Compressor pressure ratio
4.15
Air-mass flow
20 kg/s
Turbine inlet temperature
1100 K
With these data specified, it is now necessary to investigate
the aerodynamic design of the compressor, turbine and
other components of the engine. It will be assumed that the
compressor has no inlet guide vanes, to keep weight and
noise down. The design of the turbine will be considered in
Chapter 7.

Axial Flow Compressors

Requirements:
choice of rotational speed and annulus dimensions;
determination of number of stages, using an assumed
efficiency;
calculation of the air angles for each stage at mean radius;
determination of the variation of the air angles from root to tip;
investigation of compressibility effects

Axial Flow Compressors

Determination of rotational speed and annulus
dimensions:
Assumptions
Guidelines:
Tip speed ut=350 m/s
Axial velocity Ca=150-200 m/s
Hub-tip ratio at entry 0.4-0.6
Calculation of tip and hub radii at inlet
Assumptions Ca=150 m/s

Ut=350 m/s to be corrected to

250 rev/s

Axial Flow Compressors

rr
1C a1 A 1rt 1
m

rt

Equations
continuity

Ca

m
rt
(a)
2

rr
1C a1 1 2
rt

thus

rr
1rt 1

rt

C a

U t 2 * * t t * N rps

350
N
, solve to get rt & rr / rt
2rt

Axial Flow Compressors

procedure
To 1 Ta 288 K , Po1 Pa 1.01 bar
C1 C a1 150
2

C1
T1 To1
276.8
2c p 2

P1 T1

P1
Po1 To1
P1
1
1.106kg / m 3
RT

Axial Flow Compressors

From equation (a)
0.03837

rt

rr
1

rt

N 350 / 2rt
assume rr / rt from 0.4 0.6

rr / rt

rt

0.4

0.2137

260.6

0.5

0.2262

246.3

0.6

0.2449

227.5

Axial Flow Compressors

Consider rps250
Thus rr/rt=0.5, rt=0.2262, ut=2rt*rps=355.3 m/s
2

Get V1t u1t C a1

385.7

a RT1
v1t
M1
1.165
a
Is ok. Discussed later. Results r-t=0.2262,
r-r=0.1131, r-m=0.1697 m

Axial Flow Compressors

At exit of compressor
Po2
Po1

4.15 [ given Po 2 4.19bar ];

where

To2
To1

Po2

n 1
n

Po
1

n -1
1
0.4

317, assume 0.9; To 2 452.5 K ;

n

1.4

T2
Ca
P2

T2 To2
441.3 K;

To
2c p
Po 2
2

P
2 A2 C a , A 2 0.044;
P2 3.84 bar; 2 2 3.03 kg/m 3 ; m
RT2
2

but A 2 h( 2rm ) h 0.0413; thus rt rm

rr rm

h
0.19303m;
2

h
0.1491 m
2

results
N 250 rps; u t 355.3;

C a 150; rm 0.1697 m

inlet : rt 0.2262m; rr 0.1131m;

Outlet : rt 0.1903m; rr 0.1491m

Axial Flow Compressors

No. of stages

To =overall = 452.5-288=164.5K
rise over a stage 10-30 K for subsonic
4.5 for transonic
for rise over as stage=25
thus no. of stages =164.5/25 7 stages
- normally To5 is small at first stage
de haller criterion V2/V1 > 0.72
- work factor can be taken as 0.98, 0.93, 0.88 for 1 st,
2nd, 3 rd stage and 0.83 for rest of the stages.

Axial Flow Compressors

Stage by stage
design;

Consider middle plane

stage 1

for no vane at inlet

u 2rm thus, u m 266 m/s

cpTo uC w
C w 76.9 m / s, 1 0
Cw1 0, C w 2 76.9m / s

Axial Flow Compressors

Angles
u
tan 1
1 60.64
Ca
u C w2
tan 2
2 51.67
Ca
C w2
tan 2
2 27.14
Ca
thus the deflection in rotor blades

1 2 8.98 o
check de Haller
C / cos 2
v2
cos 1
a

0.79 which is less than 0.72

v1
C a / cos 1
cos 2

Axial Flow Compressors

pressures poly tropic efficiencies
po3
To 5
assume s
1

p o1
To1
To 3 To1 To 5 308 K

p o 3 1.249

Ca
equation 1 (tan 1 tan 2 )
2u
C w 2 C1
1
0.856
2u

Axial Flow Compressors

Second stage
To 5 25 K , 0.93
(1) c p To 5 uC a (tan 1 tan 2 )
tan 1 tan 2 0.6756

(a)

Ca
(2)
(tan 1 tan 2 ); take 0.7
2u
tan 1 tan 2 2.488
(b)
solve (a) and (b) 1 57.7 & 2 42.7 0
u
u
tan 1 tan ;
tan 2 tan 2
Ca
Ca
2
1 11.06; 2 41.05

Axial Flow Compressors

To 3 308 25 333
Po3
Po1

s 25
1
308

3.5

p o 3 1.599 bar

V2
cos 1
de Haller for second stage ;

0.721
V1
cos 2
C3
cos 2
cos 27.15

0.907
C2
cos 1
cos 11.06
stage 3

0.88, T03 25 K , 0.5

Ca
c p To 5 uC a (tan 1 tan 2 );
(tan 1 tan 2 )
2u
solving 1 51.24; 2 28.0

Axial Flow Compressors

de Haller no. is
cos1 cos 51.24

0.709
cos 2
cos 28
take To5 24 tan 1 tan 2 0.685
thus 1 50.92, 2 28.65; giving de Haller number of 0.718
* performance of 3 rd stage

p o3

0.9 24

333

3.5

1.246
p
o1 3
( p o 3 ) 1.599 1.246 1.992 bar; To3 3 333 24 357 K

Axial Flow Compressors

From symmetry of the velocity diagram 1 2 28.63
and 2 1 50.92 0.the whirl velocities are given by
C 1 150 tan 28.63 81.9m / s; C 2 150 tan 50.92 184.7 m / s
stages 4 and 5,6
c p To 5 uC a (tan 1 tan 2 )
p o3

Ca
(tan 1 tan 2 )
2u

To5

3
24

1
.
005

10
; tan 1 tan 2
1
0.7267

p o1
To1
0.83 266.6 150
266.6
(tan 1 tan 2 ) 0.5 2
1.7773
150
yielding 1 51.38 0 and 2 27.71( 1 ).

the performance of the three stages can be summerized below :

Axial Flow Compressors

Stage

1.992

2.447

2.968

357

381

405

1.228

1.213

1.199

po3

2.447

2.968

3.560

To 3

381

405

429

0.521

0.592

Po1
To1
po3
p o1

p o 3 p o1 0.455

Axial Flow Compressors

Stage 7
At entry to the final stage the pressure and
temperature are 3.56 bar and 429 K. the required
compressor delivery pressure is 4.15*1.01=4.192 bar.
The pressure ratio of the seventh stage is thus given
by

po3

p o1

4.192

1.177
3.56

7
the temperature rise required to give
the pressure ratio can be detrmined from
3 .5

0.90Tos

1.177
1

429

givingTos 22.8 K

Axial Flow Compressors

the corresponding air angles, assuming 50 per cent
reaction, are then 1=50.98,

2 28.52 ( 1 ) with a satisfactory

de Haller number of 0.717.
0

Design calculations using EES

"Determination of the rotational speed and annulus dimensions"

"Known Information"
To_1=288 [K]; Po_1=101 [kPa]; m_dot=20[kg/s]; U_t=350 [m/s]
$ifnot ParametricTable
Ca_1=150[m/s];r_r/r_t=0.5;cp=1005;R=0.287;Gamma=1.4
$endif
Gamr=Gamma/(Gamma-1)
m_dot=Rho_1*Ca_1*A_1
"mass balance"
A_1=pi*(r_t^2-r_r^2)"relation between Area and eye dimensions"
U_t=2*pi*r_t*N_rps
C_1=Ca_1
T_1=To_1-C_1^2/(2*cp)
P_1/Po_1=(T_1/To_1)^Gamr
Rho_1=P_1/(R*T_1)
$TabStops 0.5 2 in

Design calculations using EES

Determination of the rotational speed and annulus dimensions

Known Information
To 1 = 288

[K]

Po 1 = 101

Ca 1 = 150

[m/s]

rr
rt

Gamr =

1 Ca 1 A1

A1 =

( rt

Ut =

2 r t N rps

P1
Po 1
1 =

To 1

cp

= 20
1005

[kg/s]
R =

U t = 350
0.287

mass balance
2

rr )

Ca 1

T1 =

0.5

m =

C1 =

[kPa]

T1
To 1
P1
R T1

C1

2 cp
Gamr

relation between Area and eye dimensions

[m/s]
1.4

Design calculations using EES

Calculate radii at exit section

Choose (round) rotational speed as 250 rps

N rps

250

Thus calc new value for tip speed

rt 1 =

0.2262

Ut =

2 rt 1 N rps

rm =

0.1697

Known Information
To 1 = 288
P ratio =

[K]

4.15

Assumptions
Etta inf =
Ca 2 =

0.9
Ca 1

Ca 1 = 150
Gamr =

[m/s]

Design calculations using EES

nratio

P ratio
To 2

Etta inf Gam r

Po 2
Po 1
Po 2

To 1

nratio

Po 1

2 Ca 2 A2

A2

2 h rm

C2

Ca 2

T2

P2
Po 2
2

C2

To 2

2 cp

T2

To 2
P2
R T2

rt =

rm +

rr =

rm

h
2
h
2

Gamr

nratio=(n-1)/n=(1/etta inf )/ga

Design calculations using EES

A2 = 0.04398

Ca1 = 150 [m/s]

Ca2 = 150 [m/s]

cp = 1005 [J/kgK]

C2 = 150 [m/s]

Ettainf = 0.9

= 1.4

Gamr = 3.5

h = 0.041 [m]

m = 20 [kg/s]

nratio = 0.3175

Nrps = 250 [rev per sec]

Po1 = 101 [kPa]

Po2 = 419.2

P2 = 384 [kPa]

Pratio = 4.15

R = 0.287 [kJ/kgK]

2 = 3.032

rt1 = 0.2262 [m]

rm = 0.1697 [m]

rr = 0.1491 [m]

rt = 0.1903 [m]

To1 = 288 [K]

To2 = 452.5 [K]

T2 = 441.3 [C]

Ut = 355.3 [m/s]

Design calculations using EES

Calculate number of stages

Known Information
To 1 = 288
P ratio =

[K]

4.15

Po 1 = 101
To outlet

[kPa]

452.5

cp =

1005

= 20

[kg/s]

Assumptions
delT stage

Ca 1 = 150

25
[m/s]

Gamr =

delT ov =

To outlet To 1

N stages

delT ov
delT stage

R =

0.287

1.4

Design calculations using EES

Ca1 = 150 [m/s]

cp = 1005 [J/kgK]

delTov = 164.5

delTstage = 25

Po1 = 101 [kPa]

Pratio = 4.15

R = 0.287 [kJ/kgK] To1 = 288 [K]

= 1.4
Tooutlet = 452.5

Gamr = 3.5

m = 20 [kg/s]

Nstages = 6.58